Our prediction for this Belgium Pro League match:
Gent
Match Time & Date:
10/11/2024
16:00
Prediction: 2-1
St Liege
Gent will aim to strengthen their hold on a top-six position as they take on Standard Liege at their Ghelamco Arena. The hosts have been solid at home this season and will be looking for their fourth victory on familiar turf. Standard, on the other hand, have struggled away from home, suffering four losses on the road, and could face another tough encounter here. Gent's recent home form against Standard is promising, as they secured a dominant 5-1 win in their last meeting at the Ghelamco Arena.
Although the hosts will be without experienced midfielder Sven Kums, they still have the quality to control the game. Standard have a few absentees of their own, with Nathan Ngoy, Laurent Henkinet, and Arnaud Bodart likely missing Sunday's clash. Given Gent’s home strength and Standard’s travel woes, a home win looks to be the most probable outcome.
Highlighted Player (Sven Kums):
Belgian defender Sven Kums began his youth career at Dilbeek Sport and in 1996 he joined Anderlecht. Despite spending seven years at the club, he did not see any game action with the Belgian giants at senior level. After ending his loan spells with the likes of Lierse and Kortrijk, he signed a permanent deal with de Kerels in 2008.
The 176-cm-tall midfielder, who was born on 26 February, 1988, scored 12 goals in 116 league appearances for Kortrijk and in 2011 he moved to Netherlands, signing a contract with Heerenveen. In 2013 he returned to Belgium, joining Zulte Waregem.
In the summer of 2014 he moved to fellow Belgian outfit Gent and at the end of the 2015/2016 season he signed a loan deal with Udinese. Kums has 12 caps for Belgium U21 and it has to be noted that his father Ludo Kums is working as a coach at Anderlecht. Sven Kums is a centre midfielder, but he plays as both attacking midfielder and defensive midfielder as well.
Highlighted Team (St Liege):
Standard are a Belgian football club based in Liege. The club was founded back in 1898 and 11 years later they joined Belgian First League. Les Rouches (the Reds) immediately dropped to the lower leagues, but in 1921 they returned to the Belgian top flight. Standard won their first Belgian League trophy in 1958, but you should have in mind that they were level on points with second-placed Royal Antwerp.
In 2009 the Reds clinched their tenth domestic title, beating Anderlecht in the title game. Talented midfielder Axel Witsel scored the winner for Standard in the 1-0 triumph over their bitter rivals. Standard play their home games at Stade Maurice Dufrasne, the venue that was opened in 1909. The capacity of the stadium is 30 023.
Maurice Dufrasne was the club’s chairman from 1909 until 1931. Speaking of the club’s European success, Standard participated in the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup final in 1982, losing to La Liga giants Barcelona in the title game.
